For about a century, the NY Giants have become one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. Big Blue has amassed eight championships, four of which were in the Super Bowl era. The Giants have also had some of the best players come in and out of the organization, such as Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning, and Michael Strahan. The New York Giants Ring of Honor has 49 members, including 17 players and coaches who are also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For many players, playing in New York comes with a lot of added pressure set by the organization, its fanbase, and the media, as well as the expectation to succeed immediately. If those players don't find success in the Big Apple within their first few years, the team could eventually decide to move on from them. This could result in athletes hitting their full potential elsewhere or in a smaller market because of less pressure.
While the Giants have had some of the most accomplished players in the league, the front office has yet to allow some of their talent to develop further and unlock their full potential with the team. Let's look at five players the New York Giants front office gave up on too soon:
5. DT Linval Joseph
For those who may have forgotten, the Giants drafted two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Linval Joseph with the No. 46 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Joseph would spend four seasons in New York from 2010 to 2013 and helped the G-Men win a Super Bowl in 2011 before signing a five-year, $31.5 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, which would be a significant loss for the Giants.
Vikings gave former Giants DT Linval Joseph a 5-yr, $31.5 million deal, per source. Big loss for NYG.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2014
While Joseph's stats don't necessarily jump off the charts during his tenure with the Giants, the DT was extremely valuable to the team because he stayed highly productive when healthy. From 2011 to 2013, the former second-round pick started 46 games. In his four seasons with Big Blue, Joseph would finish with 107 solo tackles, nine sacks, and 18 tackles for a loss, but his best seasons were ahead of him.
Joseph would play six seasons in Minnesota, where he became a valuable piece on defense. The veteran DT would start 88 games with the Vikings and amass 209 solo tackles, 15 sacks, 32 tackles for a loss, and a touchdown. He started every game in 2016 and 2017 with 77 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for a loss, resulting in back-to-back Pro Bowls.
Following his playing days with the Vikings, Joseph played with the Los Angeles Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills last year. The 35-year-old DT is a free agent, and it remains unknown if and where he'll play in 2024.